Heatwave House is Warner Records Nashville’s premier annual event hosted during the high-traffic week of CMA Fest in Nashville, TN. This massive activation serves as a critical hub for WRN’s roster, industry staff, influencers, and the public, featuring live artist performances, specialty drinks, photobooths, and exclusive merchandise.
While I served as the lead art director executing the project, I worked hand-in-hand with the events, partnerships, and marketing teams to ideate the initial design concept. From there, I took full ownership of creating, scaling, and maintaining the extensive suite of design assets and variations needed to bring this high-profile brand experience to life.
photography + design + physical
While I wasn’t behind the lens for this project, I was on set collaborating directly with the photographer to help guide the visual narrative from the very first shutter click. The stunning photography became the foundation of our creative direction. Through a collaborative process of presenting multiple design comps and maintaining open communication with Hudson and his management team, we meticulously finalized the core typography, the official cover art, and an alternative cover version.
A primary objective for the Vinyl and CD packaging was to deliver an elevated, highly cohesive aesthetic that painted Hudson in a mature and entirely new light. To achieve this, his team and I carefully curated the final photo selections, ensuring every physical asset felt intentional, premium, and perfectly aligned with the next chapter of his career.
marketing + social
To support one of the year’s most anticipated releases, I engineered a highly cohesive visual identity across social channels, magazines, billboards, and physical activations for a rollout that completely took over country music. When the campaign unexpectedly intersected with the tragic 2025 Texas floods, the marketing team at Hudson’s Management agency and I quickly pivoted to design custom tour screens, pendant flags, and window clings. These assets respectfully honored Texas resilience while staying fiercely on-brand with Hudson’s image.